Dusseldorf businessman Jurgen Friedrich joined Esprit Holdings Ltd. in 1976 to help the California apparel company founded by Susie and Doug Tompkins and Hong Kong businessman Michael Ying branch out in Europe. Friedrich, who now owns approximately 6.5% of the company, was named nonexecutive director in 1997 and is currently in retirement on the U.S. seashore in posh Southampton, N.Y.